Save Our Shade

We all love our green city and appreciate the shade of a big fig to park under on a hot day. Imagine a FNQ where every urban street has beautiful, well maintained shade trees and you can walk through the city without getting sunburned.

The Cairns Regional Council’s planning laws & vegetation management practises allow people to cut down huge shade trees, like the St Johns fig, at an alarming rate.

Currently on the chopping block: a 40 year old fig that the St John’s Anglican Church on Minnie Street has applied to cut down on the edge of their property. The fig provides over five metres of shade onto the street.

With proper care and maintenance this tree can thrive and continue to provide shade to the parishioners of the church and those walking through the city.

We call on the Cairns Regional Council planners to reject the St Johns Church application to cut down this Exceptional tree and commit to keeping our streets shady.

Tell Cairns Regional Council: Save Our Shade

Above: 40+ year old Weeping Fig on the St John’s Anglican Church Minnie Street boundary in Cairns City

Above: T5 Weeping Fig outside Cairns City Library that CAFNEC community members succesfully campaigned to stop CRC cutting down in 2022

CAFNEC Tree Action Group

CAFNEC community members formed the Tree Action Group in mid 2024 in response to concerns about the increasing number of Shade trees being cut down in the Cairns Regional Council area. The group builds on the decades of work done in the region to protect urban trees. The group is coordinated by CAFNEC Community Organiser Monique Jeffs. 

We have three sub working groups with specific focus: 

Developing a Pilot Street Tree Planting with Cairns Regional Council funding to trial what it takes to get 50% tree canopy cover on suburban streets.

Monitoring and responding to new & existing Development Applications that include clearing.

Community campaigning to reform the Vegetation Management Code and hold the Cairns Regional Council to account for protecting our significant trees.

Contact TAG on trees@nullcafnec.org.au or email CAFNEC Community Organiser, Monique at getinvolved@nullcafnec.org.au for more information or to get involved with one of the working groups. 

Notice a tree being cut down or removed?

Trees on Public Land

1. Take a picture of the whole tree and note the date and location. If the tree has already been removed see if you can get a screenshot of the tree from Google Maps Street view.

2. Email the pictures to feedback@nullcairns.qld.gov.au (or relevant Local Council contact) to request information about why the tree is being or was removed. Include if you’re a local resident. 

3. CC or Forward your email to trees@nullcafnec.org.au with pictures and information about the tree including it’s location.

Trees on Private Land

1. It’s happening in front of you: Take photos of as much of the trees as you can, Council staff need to be able to identify what was there beforehand and call 1300 692 247 

2. Follow up: Email council@nullcairns.qld.gov.au and request a CRM be raised for a ‘Breach of Planning Scheme’ include dates and times as well as the photos you have (before and after if possible).

3. CC Trees@nullcafnec.org.au in your email and we can follow up if you don’t get a response

If you see this “Tree Removal Notice” sign follow the
steps on the left of this page. 

Above: Le Grand Park Fig removed by Cairns Regional Council in 2024

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CAFNEC, EDO NQ and ACF would like to invite all members of the public to attend one of the public forums being held in both Cairns and Mareeba to ask questions about, and hear the case for supporting, the Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016.

Photo Credit: Kerry Trapnell (TWS)

WHEN: 

Tuesday 31st May 2016

WHERE:

• 1.00-3.00pm Mareeba Memorial Bowls Club, Anzac Avenue, Mareeba.
• 6.30-8.00pm Serbian Cultural Centre, 167 Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill, Cairns.

MORE DETAILS:

The Queensland Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 is currently under inquiry by a parliamentary committee.

This Bill is fulfilment of a 2015 election commitment by the Palaszczuk government to reinstate vegetation protection laws weakened under the Newman government. See here for history and background.

It is essential that this Bill is passed, to ensure the Great Barrier Reef, wildlife, soils, waterways and our climate are protected from the devastating impacts of broadscale clearing.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Environmental Defenders Office Queensland (EDO Qld) Solicitor Revel Pointon will identify how the proposed changes to Queensland’s Vegetation Management Act relates to other laws and dispel common myths. Key legal points will cover retrospectivity,  onus of proof and mistake of fact provisions.

Dr Martin Taylor, WWF-Australia’s Conservation Scientist will discuss why the existing law cannot meet its legal purpose and how it fails to protect biodiversity, our climate and the Great Barrier Reef.

Dr Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University (Mareeba event only) will present on the prospective potential of payment for ecosystem services of native vegetation and how this could provide future economic opportunities.

There will also be information provided to the community on ways to show support to ensure the bill and its necessary protections are passed.

These events will be co-hosted by the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC), Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and EDO Northern Queensland.

Photo credit (banner image): Kerry Trapnell (TWS)

The post Tree Clearing Laws (Qld) appeared first on CAFNEC.

Nature lovers are today welcoming the upgrading of 12 areas of State forest to National Park, most of which are in Far North Queensland.

The announcement came with a commitment from Environment and National Parks Minister Dr Steven Miles to upgrade overall Queensland protected area coverage from 8% to 17%, including “re-committing to transferring forests of high conservation value to protected areas such as national parks”.

Josh Coates CAFNEC Director said:

“New areas under National Park protection is definitely good news. These additions are in some cases quite small areas but are none the less significant. This is a clear signal that we are dealing with a Government that, just like our broader community, places real value on National Park tenure. National Park status represents a higher level of protection than other tenures such as State forest.

It is great to hear our Environment Minister really backing the message that our National Parks provide invaluable economic, social, cultural and health benefits for Queensland and Australia.

With the large spike in land clearing that has occurred in Queensland as a result of changes to the land clearing laws under the former Newman Government it is refreshing to hear some good news. We look forward to quick action from the Government on implementing the election promise to reinstate land clearing laws.”

National Park Upgrades announced:

• Bulburin East Forest Reserve, 1,695 ha in size, located near Bundaberg and now part of Bulburin National Park
• Cardwell Forest Reserve, 45 ha in size, located near Cardwell and now part of Girringun National Park
•        Danbulla Forest Reserve, 17 ha in size, located near Cairns and now part of Danbulla National Park
• Part of Danbulla South Forest Reserve, 614 ha in size, located near Atherton and now part of Danbulla National Park
• Part of Danbulla South Forest Reserve 2, 468 ha in size, located near Atherton and now part of Danbulla National Park
• Part of Danbulla West Forest Reserve, 2,136 ha in size, located near Atherton and now part of Danbulla National Park
• Part of Dryander Forest Reserve, 1,355 ha in size, located near Proserpine and now part of Dryander National Park
• Part of Kelvin Forest Reserve, 2,413 ha in size, located near Mackay and now part of Kelvin National Park
• Part of Kuranda Forest Reserve, 1 ha in size, located near Cairns and now part of Kuranda National Park
• Part of Kuranda West Forest Reserve, 306 ha in size, located near Cairns and now part of Kuranda National Park
• Palmerston Forest Reserve, 0.4 ha in size, located near Atherton and now part of Wooroonooran National Park
• Trinity Forest Reserve, 2,243 ha in size, located near Cairns and now part of the Grey Peaks National Park.

Media contact: Josh Coates, Director, (07) 4032 1586, 0438 805 284, director@nullcafnec.org.au

—

Josh Coates |Director | Cairns and Far North Environment Centre

P: (07) 4032 1586 | F: (07) 4053 3779 |

Cominos House, 27-29 Greenslopes Street, Cairns North P.O. Box 323N, Cairns North 4870

Help us make a difference, join CAFNEC or make a donation today – www.cafnec.o rg.au

Please consider the environment before you print this e-mail or any attachments. The information in this email is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended for the recipient only. This email may contain information which represents the views and opinions of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of CAFNEC as an organisation.

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This is what land clearing in Queensland looks like: (Left: Clearing at Olive Vale, Cape York. Right: Clearing at Strathmore Station, North Queensland.) Image courtesy The Wilderness Society

CAFNEC is today congratulating the Government and Independent MPs Billy Gordon and Peter Wellington on voting down a LNP motion to halt the promised restoration of land clearing controls in Queensland.

The LNP motion (27/10/15) called on the Government to not introduce any amendment’s to Queensland’s vegetation management framework.

As Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, pointed out in the House – the former Premier Campbell Newman had broken an election commitment not to wind back land clearing laws. The current Government made and election promise to bring back the protections wound back in the previous term.

The issue of ‘panic clearing’ ahead of the anticipated return to better laws means it is critical that the Government now moves quickly to fulfil its election promise and reinstate the protections for critical habitat on the Cape and throughout Queensland.

If you support bringing back protection for our forests and woodlands and the threatened species they support then send a message of encouragement via our easy to use e mailer below.

Media contact: Josh Coates, Director, (07) 4032 1586

Read more here: https://cafnec.org.au/2015/08/20/halt-the-land-clearing-reinstate-the-laws-that-protect-our-wildlife/

The post Take action to welcome Government vote regarding land clearing laws appeared first on CAFNEC.

Think again…  read, then scroll down for an easy way to help us to reach our target of 100 emails in 10 hours from the FNQ community.

Under the Newman Government land clearing laws were rolled back and incredibly:

• Disturbing leaked figures show 275, 000 hectares of native vegetation was cleared in the 2013/14 financial year, nearly triple the rates of 2010.
• Over 100,000 hectares of woodlands and wilderness are already earmarked for clearing in northern Queensland, with tens of thousands of hectares of clearing already underway.

This is what land clearing in Queensland looks like: (Left: Clearing at Olive Vale, Cape York. Right: Clearing at Strathmore Station, North Queensland.) Image courtesy The Wilderness Society

Currently areas such as the Olive Vale pastoral lease in southern Cape York are subject to large scale clearing.  Olive Vale has been in the news for land clearing that failed to consider matters of national environmental significance including the threatened red goshawk.

The Palaszczuk Government (via then shadow environment minister Trad) promised during the election campaign that Labor would address this and reinstate strong land clearing laws. 6 months into their term and there is as yet no clear action to implement this promise.

Meanwhile the land clearing continues, threatening native species, contributing to climate change and causing erosion and run off that affects Great Barrier Reef water quality.

Reports of ‘rush clearing’ before land clearing laws are reinstated make this all the more urgent.

Read more here:

Former Queensland Government legacy revealed with land clearing tripling in Queensland (CAFNEC)

Land clearing in Queensland triples after policy ping pong (The Conversation)

Qld investigates ‘panic clearing’ of thousands of hectares of endangered bushland (Brisbane Times)

Take action – please send an email to the Queensland Government now.

Join now – email the Premier, Deputy Premier and Environment Minister and help us reach our 100 emails in 10 hours target! – Update: target hit within the 10 hours!! Well done everyone, keep it going.

Update 28/10/15 – the emailer has been updated with a new message to reflect breaking news – read more here: https://cafnec.org.au/2015/10/28/take-action-to-welcome-government-vote-regarding-land-clearing-laws/

Thank you – please consider supporting our work further by making a donation or becoming a CAFNEC Ecostar member.

The post Halt the land clearing – reinstate the laws that protect our wildlife appeared first on CAFNEC.

The bilateral agreement will accredit state planning systems under national environmental law, creating a single environmental assessment and approval process. The reform is a component of the State and Federal Governments’ deregulation agenda and its intent is to reduce the steps in the approval process for investments, so that only one application instead of two is made – what is regarded to be a streamlined process. Our concern is that this would lead to a reduced standard of environmental assessment.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt was confirmed that the Commonwealth will retain control over decisions involving offshore Commonwealth waters, nuclear actions, and projects for which state governments are “likely to have a significant conflict of interest” as the proponent.  Chris McGrath, a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Regulation at the University of Queensland noted that “Projects for which the state is the proponent” presumably will include projects where a government-owned corporation is the proponent or a joint venture should also mean that the Commonwealth will still assess projects like the Queensland Government’s Traveston Crossing Dam and the Victorian Government’s trial of alpine grazing.  He is concerned that with the devolution of powers to the States, there could be a dilution of the appropriate checks and balances normally carried out by the Federal Government.

Environment groups are concerned that recent actions and decisions taken by state governments demonstrate that the federal government needs to retain the final decision-making power and take responsibility for its international legal obligations. These decisions include state support for:

• massive port developments along the Great Barrier Reef,
• logging and shooting in NSW national parks,
• grazing in NSW, Victorian and Queensland national parks,
• logging in Tasmanian world heritage areas
• huge coal developments in Queensland’s Galilee Basin
• the decision by the Queensland government to revoke the phase-out of sand mining on North Stradbroke Island and instead extend it to 2035 with fewer restrictions.

One of the continuing major concerns of environment groups across Australia is the protection of nationally significant endangered species.  The Commonwealth Government accredited state government forest management with the ‘one stop shop’ system, in the form of Regional Forest Agreements, implemented to streamline the management of native forests to protect the environment and support logging industry workers. In reality, RFAs have turned into a ‘one stop chop’ used to prop up the unprofitable companies, including state forestry agencies, squeezing a few quick bucks out of our precious forests with no consideration to wedge-tailed eagles, the swift parrots, with only 2,000 left of that species in the whole world, or the tiny and critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum.

A copy of the Memorandum of Agreement with the Queensland Government can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/about-us/legislation/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-act-1999/one-stop

WHAT CAN WE DO?

DRAFT BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ARE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Have your say!

The draft bilateral agreement is now open for public comment until x November 2013.  All comments must be taken into consideration and must be reported upon in conjunction with the contents of the agreement.

Find out how to comment

The post Update on ‘One Stop Shop’ – weakening of our environmental protection laws appeared first on CAFNEC.

We asked the candidates in Leichhardt a few questions to find out, and have created a scorecard to compare them.

Download the full scorecard including detailed responses from the candidates

We think some of the main issues to consider this election are:

1. Healthy Great Barrier Reef
A healthy reef is vital for a healthy economy and healthy communities in our region. Is the candidate going to work to protect the reef from port development, shipping and the impacts of decreasing water quality?

For more information check out the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Oceans policy comparison.

2. Strong environmental laws
Retaining Federal environmental protection powers under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is vital. Handing these powers over to state governments would significantly weaken our environment protection laws and could result in loss of protected species and communities.

Find out more at http://placesyoulove.org/

3. Taking action for a safe climate
We’re heading towards a low carbon future. Will the candidate work to ensure Australia leads the way in reducing carbon emissions and planning for a sustainable future?

For more information check out Vote Climate’s election scorecard for a comparison of major parties’ climate and energy policies.

For further information:

Read our media release 29 August

View the Queensland Environment Organisations Joint Election Position Statement

For general election scorecards check out the Get Up! election scorecard or the Australian Conservation Foundation’s comparison of major parties’ environment policies.

The post Federal election environment scorecard appeared first on CAFNEC.

The Newman government is proposing amendments to the Vegetation Management Framework that would reduce protection of our native vegetation and allow the clearing of an estimated 700,000 hectares of Queensland’s endangered and ecologically significant forests and woodlands.

“The proposed Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Bill causes us to have serious concerns about the future of Queensland’s terrestrial biodiversity and the future health of the Great Barrier Reef. If passed, this Bill would represent the biggest wind-back of environmental protection laws in Queensland’s history” said Anna McGuire, Coordinator of the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre.

“Many of the amendments are not in the long term interests of Queensland communities and are in direct conflict with the purpose of the Vegetation Management Act, which is to make land use more sustainable by preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological processes.”

“These amendments effectively prioritise economic interests over ecological concerns. This Bill should be rejected for the sake of maintaining our soil and waterway health, protecting biodiversity, and safeguarding the future prosperity of our regional and rural communities.”

“Protecting vegetation is critical for maintaining the fundamental ecosystem services that our regional, rural and urban communities rely on. Maintaining native vegetation cover is a fundamental aspect of ensuring ongoing prosperity for the agricultural sector. Vegetation protects topsoil and maintains healthy waterways, and is necessary for sustainable agricultural production in the long term.”

“Minister Cripps describes these proposed changes as ‘practical reforms’ that will ‘pave the way for sustainable development of new agricultural areas’, but these proposed changes would lead to loss of biodiversity, degradation of water quality, loss of topsoil and decreased soil health.”

“These amendments would lead to further fragmentation of an already fragmented landscape, resulting in species declines and loss of ecosystem function. The effects of clearing and fragmentation of native vegetation are well researched and absolutely clear – any clearing within these fragments will have significant long term negative impacts on biodiversity values and on species’ survival.”

“These changes would result in degradation of waterways, including Wild Rivers, with lasting impacts on the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Large-scale vegetation clearing increases the amount of sediment and nutrient runoff flowing out in to the reef lagoon, placing further stress on the reef.”

“We also have concerns regarding policing and enforcement of vegetation clearing under the revised framework. Removal of the capacity for judicial review and placing decision making entirely in the hands of the Chief Executive, removes a fundamental democratic check and allows for politically appointed Chief Executives to make unsound and unreviewable decisions that reflect political ideology, rather than being in the best interests of land stewardship.
Contact – Anna McGuire P: 4032 1746 E: coord@nullcafnec.org.au

Background
The vegetation management framework consists of the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA) and the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and their regulations. Since its introduction in 2000, the framework, policy and codes (developed through extensive stakeholder consultation and with extensive input from the scientific community) which have been applauded by state and national environmental organisations, natural resource management bodies, state and commonwealth government agencies, indigenous organisations, local government, landholders and industry a s a critical tool that to protect Queensland’s native vegetation.
Queensland’s Vegetation Management Act, introduced in 1999, slowed land clearing from more than 50,000 ha per year before laws were introduced to 77,590 ha in 2009-10. Changes to the laws in 2009 gave extra protections to regrowth vegetation in recognition that many ecosystems had been pushed so far to the brink that recovery was their only hope.
The Newman Government is proposing amendments to the Vegetation Management Framework that would mean:

• Clearing applications could now be made for ‘additional relevant purposes’ of high value agricultural clearing and irrigated high value agricultural clearing. This would mean that north Queensland would be exposed to extensive clearing for agricultural purposes, with adverse impacts on the GBR.
• High value regrowth vegetation on freehold land and indigenous land (regrowth which hasn’t been cleared since 1989) will no longer be protected, exposing hundreds of thousands of hectares of regrowth to clearing.
• All Wild River provisions will be removed from the VMA, meaning that clearing along these rivers will be assessed under standard VMA codes rather than previous stricter Wild Rivers codes. Declared Wild Rivers in the GBR catchment that this will affect are: Hinchinbrook, Lockhart Basin and Stewart Basin.
• Compliance, offences and enforcement provisions will be significantly weakened. For example the defences are expanded to include ‘mistaken belief’. A lease could no longer be forfeited if the lessee has more than one conviction for a vegetation clearing offence.
• Removing of the capacity for judicial review and placing the decision making entirely in the hands of the Chief Executive which will remove a fundamental democratic check. This would allow for a politically appointed Chief Executive to make unsound and un-reviewable decisions that reflect the wishes of their political superiors, rather than being in the best interests of land stewardship.

The post MEDIA RELEASE “Taking the axe to Queensland’s tree clearing laws” not such a bright idea appeared first on CAFNEC.

April 2013

The Newman Government is proposing amendments to the Vegetation Management Act 1999 that will mean:

• Clearing applications could now be made for ‘additional relevant purposes’ of high value agricultural clearing and irrigated high value agricultural clearing. This would mean that north Queensland would be exposed to extensive clearing for agricultural purposes, with adverse impacts on the GBR.
• High value regrowth vegetation on freehold land and indigenous land (regrowth which hasn’t been cleared since 1989) will no longer be protected, exposing hundreds of thousands of hectares of regrowth to clearing.
• All Wild River provisions will be removed from the VMA, meaning that clearing along these rivers will be assessed under standard VMA codes rather than previous stricter Wild Rivers codes. Declared Wild Rivers in the GBR catchment that this will affect are: Hinchinbrook, Lockhart Basin and Stewart Basin.
• Compliance, offences and enforcement provisions will be significantly weakened. For example the defences are expanded to include ‘mistaken belief’. A lease could no longer be forfeited if the lessee has more than one conviction for a vegetation clearing offence.
• Removing of the capacity for judicial review (page 39 line 17), and placing the decision making entirely in the hands of the Chief Executive which will remove a fundamental democratic check. This would allow for a politically appointed Chief Executive to make unsound and un-reviewable decisions that reflect the wishes of their political superiors, rather than being in the best interests of land stewardship.

Our concerns

These proposed amendments to the Vegetation Management Act (VMA) cause us to have serious concerns about the future of Queensland’s terrestrial biodiversity, as well as concerns about the long term sustainability of Queensland’s agricultural sector, and the future health of the Great Barrier Reef. These amendments are in direct conflict with the original purpose of the VMA, and are not in the long term interests of Queensland communities.

The purpose of the original Vegetation Management Act is to make land use more sustainable by preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological processes, a critical part of ensuring inter-generational equity in access to the natural environment.

These amendments insert an economic imperative that overrides ecological concerns in allowing for the clearing of Endangered Regional Ecosystems. Most of our most fertile lands are already cleared, what little remains deserves protection. These tiny fragments, and in the case of Brigalow and Mabi Forest they really are tiny, provide critical habitat for threatened species – and yet if someone thinks they can make a few dollars by clearing, then it will be permitted. The effects of clearing and fragmentation of natural vegetation are well researched and absolutely clear – any clearing within these fragments will have a significant long term negative impacts on biodiversity values of the land.

Why protecting native vegetation is important

• Not only is it important to protect native vegetation to preserve endangered plants and ecosystems and to provide habitat for native fauna, but also to ensure intergenerational equity in access to resources and to ensure prosperity of future generations.
• Protecting vegetation is critical for maintaining the fundamental ecosystem services that our regional, rural and urban communities rely on.
• Native vegetation cover safeguards soil health and water quality, and sequesters carbon.
• Maintaining native vegetation cover is a fundamental aspect of ensuring ongoing prosperity for the agricultural sector. Vegetation protects topsoil and maintains water quality in waterways, and is necessary for sustainable agricultural production in the long term.
• Minister Cripps describes these proposed changes as ‘practical reforms’ that will ‘pave the way for sustainable development of new agricultural areas’, but these proposed changes would lead to loss of biodiversity, degradation of water quality and loss of topsoil and loss of soil health.
• Soil health, as any farmer can tell you, is fundamental to agricultural production. Removing riparian vegetation and losing topsoil to erosion does not lead to ‘sustainable agriculture’.

For more information you can read our April 2013 submission on this issue.

If you’re concerned about this issue, please contact Premier Newman (thepremier@nullpremiers.qld.gov.au) and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps MP (nrm@nullministerial.qld.gov.au).

The post Proposed amendments to the Vegetation Management Act put Queensland biodiversity at risk appeared first on CAFNEC.

5 December 2012

Queensland’s state and regional conservation groups meeting in Brisbane today have demanded that Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and other Queensland Labor MPs act to prevent the handing over of environmental approval powers to the States.

The so-called “slashing green tape” agenda is being considered at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Canberra this Friday. The Business sector has been pressuring the Federal government to push ahead with plans to hand the Federal Environment Minister’s approval powers under the EPBC Act* to the states and territories as soon as March next year.

“We have been witnessing a wholesale removal of environmental protections in Queensland on a completely unprecedented scale and at a pace that is breath-taking – and certainly beyond the capacity of the community to respond”, said Toby Hutcheon Executive Director of Queensland Conservation Council.

It is inconceivable that the Federal Labor government would consider walking away from its national and international environmental obligations at any time but to do so now is simply an act of total recklessness”.

“If you look at any of the accepted indicators such as threatened species, ecosystem health or habitat loss Queensland’s environment is in a state of crisis,” said Australian Rainforest Conservation Society President Aila Keto.

Both state and federal governments are going entirely in the wrong direction – they should be strengthening environmental protections not weakening them”.

“Our organisations together represent tens of thousands of Queenslanders who are extremely alarmed at the prospect of the economic development driven Newman government having sole responsibility for the future of Queensland’s special places like Cape York and World Heritage areas like the Great Barrier Reef” said Dr Tim Seelig Queensland Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society.

We will mobilise our members over the coming months to make it clear to Queensland Federal Labor MPs that they need to stop this reckless agenda and take responsibility for protecting Australia’s environment”.

Contact: Toby Hutcheon: 0419 664503 – Aila Keto: 0414 760583 – Dr Tim Seelig:  0439 201183

* Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

Groups represented:

Queensland Conservation Council (QCC)

GECKO (Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council)

Logan & Albert Conservation Association (LACA)

Brisbane Region Environments Council (BREC)

Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC)

Capricorn Conservation Council (CCC)

North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC)

Cairns & Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC)

Friends of the Earth (Brisbane)

The Wilderness Society Inc (Qld)

Australian Rainforest Conservation Society (ARCS)

National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ)

Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ)

Birdlife Southern Queensland

Birds Queensland

Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc

Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS)

The post Groups demand Queensland’s Federal MPs retain protection of the State’s environment appeared first on CAFNEC.